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I March 7, 1933. c SLADKY 1,900,749

LOCK JOINT FOR METAL PIPES Filed March 15, 1930 (away/6 Patented Mar. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALEXANDER G. SLADKY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE REEVES murac'ru RING COMPANY, OF DOVER, OHIO, A CORPORA- TION' OF OHIO Locx 301m ron METAL rrrns Application filed. March 15, 1930. Serial No. 436,101.

This invention relates to new and improved lock joints for metal pipes.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of an improved interlocking seam for metal pipes, such as stove pipes, and the like, wherein the edges of the pipe can be quickly locked together without the use of any particular type of tools, wherein the device comprises a self-locking seam for joining the opposite edges of the pipe section in such manner that the seam hammered down before the pipe is placed in position.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a locking joint for stove pipes and the like, wherein the pipe sections can be conveyed from the production user with the seam in an unlocked position, and the seam is of such construction that the user can quickly and readily lock the same together when 'itis desiredto use the pipe, and wherein the use of tools for locking the seam is unnecessary.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an improved type of locking seam for stove pipes, and the like, wherein the pipe sections are shipped to the user in an unlocked position and wherein the opposed edges of the sections can be quickly and easily locked in such manner that they will not become displaced relative to each other without the use of special tools in order to unlock these joining edges.

Another object of the improvement is to provide a lock joint for metal pipes including a raw edge upon one interlocking formation'arranged to interlock with an angular locking shoulder upon the other interlocking formationof the pipe section.

A further object of the improvement is to provide'a lock joint for metal pipes including an angular locking shoulder at each edge of the pipe section for interlocking engagement with the whereby a double interlocking joint is provided.

A still further object is to provide alock joint for metal pipes in which the formation at each edge of the pipe section includes an angular locking shoulder and a raw edge for does not have to be plant to the I formation upon the other edge interlocking engagement with the angular locking shoulder upon the other edge thereof.

Still another object of the improvement is to provide a raw edge upon one formation for interlocking engagement in the crotch or angle of a locking shoulder of the other formation.

With the above and other objects in view, the lnvention consists in the novel features of construction, the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims and shown 1n the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 1s a perspective view of a portion of a p pe section illustrating my improved loclrjomt in locking position;

Figure 2 is an end view of the joint showing the first step in locking the edges together;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing a second step in the operation; and,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure .2, show ng the opposed edges of the pipe sect1on in spaced relation.

As a general rule, pipe sections such as used for stove pipes are shipped with the seams thereof in open or unlocked position, which is essential for permitting the nesting of the pipe sections in order to conserve shipping space and to provide means wherein a plurality of pipe sections can be packed in a small crate or container, thus reducing the cost of shipping the retainer for the pipe sections, and the object of my invention, as set forth above, is the provision of an improved self-locking seam wherein the opposed edges of the pipe sections can be quickly locked together Without the use of necessary tools, when it is desired to set the pipe up ready for use.

-Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 indicates a portion of a pipe section to which my improved locking seam is applied. In the construction of my improved locking seam, one edge of the pipe section is folded 3, and the extreme edge projects beyond the edge of the section a predetermined distance and folded upon itself to form a longitudinal crotch or recess 4, the angular locking shoulder 5 of which may be disposed in a slanting position, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4.

The other edge of the pipe section is folded upon itself to provide a substantially heavy tongue 6, and the rear end of the tongue is provided with an offset portion 7, laterally ofi'settin the tongue 6 relative to the 1pipe section, forming an inwardly angled loc ing shoulder 8, while the extreme raw edge extends rearwardly beyond the shoulder as shown at 9.

In Figure 4, the two edges of the pipe section are shown in a disconnected or separated position, and in order to connect the two opposed edges of the pipe section, the tongue 6 is forced into the space between the folded edge 10 and the wall 5, pressing inwardly on the outwardly angled locking shoulder 5 to permit the tongue 6 to enter the U-shaped groove or pocket 3, as shown in Figure 2. As soon as the tongue 6 reaches the inner end of the U-shaped groove 3, the projecting raw edge 9 will pass the outer edge of the locking shoulder 5 and drop downwardly into the U-shaped groove 3, as shown in Figure 3.

Due to the resiliency of the pipe section 1,

- the projecting portion 9 will be urged into the longitudinal crotch 4 of the outwardly angled locking shoulder 5, as shown 111 Figure Land the first folded edge 10 will drop downwardly onto the tongue 6 behind the inwardly angled locking shoulder 8 and the outer raw edge of the outwardly angled lock ng shoulder 5 will abut against the inner side of the inwardly angled locking shoulder 8, as shown in Figure 1, thus forming a complete lock for the seam which will not, under ordinary circumstances, become disconnected.

Due to the fact that both edges of the pipe section are folded upon themselves, as shown at 2 and 6, these edges are reinforced sufiiciently to provide enough resiliency to hold the various parts in clamping position, as shown in Figure 1, so as to prevent the edges from being disconnected under ordinary circumstances, and the metal of which the pipe sections is formed, is sufficiently resilient to permit the edges of a section to be connected, as described.

It will be noted that the opposed edges of the pipe sections are so constructed as to form a complete hook type of lock joint, and wherein the parts of the joint, due to the resiliency of the metal, completely fit together, when in operative position, as shown in Figure 1, so that it is unnecessary to hammer the seam together in order to retain the same in locked position. However, if found desirable, the parts may be more closely nested by hammering the joint down so that it would be impossible for the joint to unlock without the use of necessary tools.

It is believed that I have provided a lock joint for metal pipe sections which will prove extremely useful, principally due to the fact that the pipe sections can be shipped in a knocked-down or unlocked position for conserving shipping space and wherein the pipe edges can have their opposed edges quickly locked together without the use of any tools whatever.

I claim:

1. A pipe section comprising a metallic sheet, one edge portion of which is folded against the inside of the sheet and then refolded to form a flange spaced from the first named fold and defining a groove, said flange terminating beyond the first folded edge in an outwardly angled locking shoulder, the other edge portion of the sheet having an inwardly offset tongue folded inward upon itself insertable into said groove and terminating in a rearwardly disposed, raw edge for engagement in the angle of said angled locking shoulder.

2. A pipe section comprising a metallic sheet, one edge portion of which is folded against the inside of the sheet and then refolded. to form a flange spaced from the first named fold and defining a groove, an outwardly angled locking shoulder upon said flange terminating in a raw edge, the other edge portion of the sheet having an inwardly angled locking shoulder formed therein and a tongue extending forward therefrom and folded inwardly upon itself insertable into said groove and terminating in a rearwardly disposed raw edge for engagement in the angle of the first named locking shoulder, the raw edge of the engaging in the angle of the locking shoulder.

3. An interlocking sheet metal pipe seam having a male and a female edge, the female second named first named locking shoulder edge consisting of three layers of metal" formed by bending the sheet inward upon itself, the terminal layer being spaced from the next adjacent layer to form a pocket, there being an outwardly angled locking shoulder upon the terminal layer extending the entire length of the ocket, and the male edge having an inward y offset portion extending forwardly into said pocket and an inwardly folded portion extending rearwardly beyond the offset portion and having a raw edge in locking engagement with said angular locking shoulder.

4. A pipe section split longitudinally and having one edge folded upon itself against the inside of the sheet and then refolded to form a flange spaced from the first named fold and defining a U-shaped housing, an inclined extension upon the terminus of said flange forming an angular recess, the other edge of the pipe section being ofi'set inwardly defining a shoulder, and an extension formed on the offset rtion folded back against said ofiset along t e entire length thereof to provide a substantially heavy tongue, the inner 5 edge of the extension being isposed rearwardly beyond the shoulder to form locking engagement with the inclined extension when the ton e is inserted in the U-shaped housing of t efirst edge. In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee in the eounty of Milwaukee and State otwisconsm. u ALEXANDER C. SLADKY. 

